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| | Tuesday, November 7 Southern Conference Breakdown | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ESPN.com
Senior, 6-4, Wofford Junior, 6-3, College of Charleston Sophomore, 6-7, Furman Sophomore, 6-9, VMI Senior, 6-8, College of Charleston Player of Year ... Jody Lumpkin, C, College of Charleston Not only can the 6-foot-8 senior dominate under the boards but also on his boards. Lumpkin averaged 15.1 points and nine rebounds a game last season, while also earning his master's degree. As a result, he was a GTE Academic All-American with a 3.91 GPA and led the conference with 13 double-doubles. Introducing ... Neil Ashby, F, Chattanooga After transferring in from Alabama, the 6-8 junior sat out last season, but he should start turning heads in the Southern Conference with his leaping ability. He averaged only 2.2 points for the Tide -- we predict a little more for the Mocs. Best backcourt ... Wofford: Ian Chadwick and Jon Pryor. The 6-4 Chadwick averaged 16.8 points and 3.3 rebounds and enters his senior year as a candidate for Southern Player of the Year. The two-time All SoCon selection has 226 career 3-pointers and should shatter the conference record (245) set by Western Carolina's Anquell McCollum in 1992-96. Pryor runs the offense and protects the ball, averaging better than two assists to every turnover. Mike Lenzly, Lee Nixon and Colon Largent give the Terriers plenty of depth in the backcourt. Best frontcourt ... College of Charleston: Jody Lumpkin, Leghton Bowie and Mike Benton. Lumpkin and Bowie are the keys to this frontline. Lumpkin might be the best player in the conference, while Bowie was an all-rookie selection last season after averaging 12 points and 6.6 rebounds as a freshman. The other forward spot is Benton's for now, but Rudy Rothseiden and Pat Davis also will see time in this spot. Team on way up ... UNC Greensboro: The Spartans should win the North Division crown with a strong core of Nathan Johnson, James Maye and Courtney Eldridge. Team on way down ... Appalachian State: After reaching the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1979, the Mountaineers are going through a tough time both on and off the court. Last season's leading scorer Rufus Leach drowned while boating this summer and the tragic loss will be tough to overcome emotionally. Tournament tough ... NCAA: College of Charleston. | ALSO SEE ESPN.com Preseason Top 25 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||